iPhone 8 Said to Have Separate Wireless Charger, No Headphone Jack Adapter or USB-C Cable in Box

Apple is planning to release three new iPhone models later this year, including 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models and an all-new 5-inch model with an OLED display and glass casing, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara.

The loosely-translated report suggests the wireless charging will not be a built-in feature, but rather a separate accessory based on technology from Luxshare, a Chinese company that has been rumored to be a supplier of wireless charging coils for the inductive Apple Watch charger in the past.

Samsung’s wireless charging stand for the latest Galaxy smartphones

If the report is accurate, it would mean Apple’s next iPhones will not have truly wireless long-range charging capabilities, but rather contact-based inductive charging like the Apple Watch or Qi-based charging pads like Samsung’s “Fast Charge” stand. Qi’s latest Quick Charge 2.0 spec supports wireless charging up to 15W.

Over the course of the last year, there has been ongoingspeculation that wireless charging company Energous has inked a deal with Apple to potentially provide wireless charging technology for the iPhone 8, but patents and other evidence suggest Apple may pursue its own in-house inductive charging solutions instead.

Five years ago, Apple marketing chief Phil Schillersaid “it’s not clear how much convenience” wireless charging systems that have to be plugged in to a wall outlet add, while noting the ubiquity of the USB cord.

As for wireless charging, Schiller notes that the wireless charging systems still have to be plugged into the wall, so it’s not clear how much convenience they add. The widely-adopted USB cord, meanwhile, can charge in wall outlets, computers and even on airplanes, he said.

Given that Apple’s wireless AirPods and BeatsX earphones are now available, perhaps it feels including the Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter in the box is no longer necessary. But the inclusion of only a Lightning to USB-A Cable, rather than a Lightning to USB-C Cable or both, makes less sense given Apple’s port future.